The Juggers are coming – It’s Friday

The Juggers are coming, but probably tomorrow because there's good telly on at the moment

This time, though, it isn’t Rutger Hauer, Joan Chen, Vincent D’onofrio and Delroy Lindo – it’s Aliens. And by Aliens we mean Aliensâ„¢.

So, after being more consistently off again and on again than any celebrity couple we can collectively think of, Aliens: Colonial Marines has a website and a vague release date (spring 2012). Is it fair to get so excited about one screenshot and a video? Watch the video to find out; if you don’t get goose bumps when that familiar sound effect cues in at the end then you are pretty much dead. This is a fact.

There is still scant info available but the teaser lets you know that Gearbox is in charge and that they are taking an interesting and potentially very good (read: traditional) approach to this game’s narrative.

Another game that is back in Arcadian Rhythms’ sights is El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. The review from Eurogamer of the Japanese import sounds very promising indeed, especially with quotes like:

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is the maddest and most beautiful thing I have played since… I don’t even know. Probably Space Channel 5.

It further intrigues (especially AJ who has only been playing bonkers games recently) with the comparisons being drawn with Bayonetta.

Anyway, you should probably go and watch Salute of the Jugger/Blood of Heroes in celebration. Why? Because it is ace.

Comments

5 responses to “The Juggers are coming – It’s Friday”

  1. ShaunCG Avatar

    As always your ability to bring up mad old films I've never even heard of astounds me.

    Colonial Marines: I am pretty excited for this (again, after entirely forgetting about it). It looks promising from a narrative standpoint as you say.

    It's a shame that Rebellion's recent AvP didn't seem to measure up. I picked it up in a sale and am actually enjoying the unforgiving and difficult marine campaign – it makes me feel weighty, slow, clumsy and vulnerable, which is how a marine should feel when up against those creatures. I've not yet dabbled in the multiplayer but I did play the PC demo of it and on the whole was not impressed, particularly by the hugely disjointed wallclimbing movements and the tricky to judge Predator acrobatics. Oh, and those instakill animations – a bit misguided, those.

    1. badgercommander Avatar
      badgercommander

      Salute of the Jugger is one of my favourite Rutger Hauer films, it is written and directed by the same guy who did the screenplay for Bladerunner. It starts off looking like it is going to be a bit of a joke but actually is very good considering the budget.

      I was really excited about AvP but then it just didn't look like fun in motion. I might pick it up one day when it is really cheap but otherwise I am putting more faith in Gearbox using their 'Brothers in Arms' engine and mechanics to bring a good Aliens game to the table. Now all they need to do is bring a good Predator game (well, better than concrete jungle) out and I will be a happy man.

      A rejigged Splinter Cell/Batman: AA style game would suit Predator down to the ground.

      1. ShaunCG Avatar

        I'll add it to my mental list of odd films to track down and watch.

        Yeah, AvP 2010 is a budget buy, for sure. I did have high hopes for it. I remember at one point staring at a screenshot from it for about 5 minutes. It was one of the alien killcam moments, with this female marine staring in horror at the alien opening its jaws right in front of her. The look of pure terror was more convincing than any such facial expression I've ever seen in a videogame. Sigh.

        I approve of your rejigged Splinter Cell idea if only because I want to see a Predator eating Airwave chewing gum ala. Chaos Theory. :D

  2. Dylan Avatar
    Dylan

    Aliens: Colonial Marines looks fantastic. There's something special about an Aliens game for me, partly due to nostalgia certainly, but also it has some of the most distinctive iconography and tone in gaming. Really looking forward to it. I think Gearbox are also planning to get the story side of it written properly which is exciting as the history and mythology of the Alien world is really tightly defined and lends itself well to great stories.

    I didn't hate the newest AvP, partly because it was an Aliens game (see above) but mostly for the Marine campaign. The Alien campaign was a wreck, a shame as the originals nailed the Alien pretty perfectly, and the Predator campaign was probably better than the previous entries in the series, but still very weak. Still, fun was had, no doubt.

    1. ShaunCG Avatar

      The main problems with the aliens, IMO, is that they never meshed its wallclimbing mechanic with the complex level geometry. It worked well in AvP 2000 because the surfaces were flat and smooth, except for stuff like stairs. Ten years later the surfaces in videogame levels are bumpy and uneven. But why Rebellion were unable to just overlay some kind of invisible, smooth mesh for the aliens to move over rather than trying to make them adhere to the lumpy geometry I do not know*.

      * there's probably a very good reason. I'm no developer!